Tel Aviv. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Israel’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) Office of Production and Procurement have signed an agreement to manufacture Z-MAG, a unique all-terrain vehicle for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

IAI has recently acquired the rights to the Israeli Z off-road vehicle family. Israel’s MOD Sub Department for Land Production and Procurement and IAI’s ELTA Group signed an agreement to manufacture and supply nine Z-MAG all-terrain vehicles to the IDF, with an option to order 21 additional units.
The Israeli developed Z-MAG vehicles have been a point of interest in the local and global off-road, all-terrain vehicle community.

The Z-MAG has an exceptional ability to maneuver in the most extreme topographical conditions and terrain. The first Z-MAG vehicles purchased by MOD will feature unique capabilities designed especially for the needs of the IDF’s Maneuvering Units. Following an assessment period, the IDF will consider buying more vehicles in the coming years. IAI is building an assembly line for the Z vehicles to be housed at ELTA’s Land Division in Be’er Sheba and is investing ILS 100 million in the project.

Yoav Turgeman, IAI VP and CEO of ELTA, said, “IAI is proud to supply the world’s most advanced all-terrain vehicles, developed in Israel, to Israel’s defense community. ELTA develops and produces a broad range of products for land purposes, including: surveillance, autonomous robotics, remote sensing, and communication. By integrating these capabilities in the Z vehicle family our products provide added value to the forces’ operational capabilities be it in defense, assault or homeland security intelligence gathering.”

Turgeman added that the Z-MAG can travel in surfaces that are blocked to other vehicles. “It can carry 14 soldiers and carry a 2.5 tons payload. This is an exceptional off road vehicle that is already getting the attention of many armed forces around the world.”

-The writer is an International Roving Correspondent of the publication